Vintage Pyrex

Bring a vintage look to your kitchen with Pyrex

Butterfly Gold Nesting Mixing Bowls

Pyrex comes in so many patterns and colors that there is sure to be one to match your vintage kitchen style. In addition, it’s useful as well as decorative which is important in any kitchen where space is often at a premium.

Whether your style is bold or country cottage there is a pattern to complement your taste in a variety of pieces including loaf pans, casserole dishes in a selection of shapes and sizes, mixing bowls, pie pans, refrigerator dishes and more!

Primary Color Casserole Dish

Pyrex got its start in 1908 when Corning Glass Works was manufacturing Nonex, a borosilicate low-expansion glass for lamp globes and battery jars. The story goes that Jesse Littleton of Corning discovered the cooking potential of borosilicate glass by giving his wife a casserole dish made from a cut-down Nonex battery jar. Corning then reformulated the glass removing the lead content and started a line of kitchenware. Hopefully Mrs. Littleton received one of the new lead free pieces and got rid of the cut down battery jar!

Early American Refrigerator Dish

Gooseberry Refrigerator Dishes

 

Another Pyrex story is that the name was created using one of the first products produced, a pie plate, combining that with the EX from the end of Nonex and sticking an R in the middle to make it easy to pronounce. Good thing because I think PIEX would have been quite the tongue twister.

At first all Pyrex was clear glass and then in 1947 Corning Glass Works began producing Pyrex in the colors and patterns we all know and love. New designs were continually introduced to the modern homemaker to keep up with latest trends and a love affair began! 



From mid century designs in turquoise to the harvest gold and avocado green designs so popular in the seventies there is a Pyrex pattern to match your taste and to make tasty meals with too!

Butterprint Refrigerator Dishes

 

Alas all good things must come to an end and Corning discontinued its production of Pyrex products in 1998 but still licensed the Pyrex brand to other companies. You should be aware that new Pyrex is made with a different glass formula, soda-lima glass, which has been linked to some complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by users reporting that their Pyrex glassware had shattered at high temperatures.



 Another good reason to buy vintage Pyrex!

Primary Color Loaf Pan

Please visit my shops Charmings Collectibles and Charmings on Etsy for a selection of Pyrex and other vintage goodies! 




To learn more about Pyrex including how to clean and care for your vintage pieces and other useful and interesting information please visit PyrexLove.com

Anchor Hocking Glass

You can find Anchor Hocking glassware just about anywhere housewares are sold today but what you may not know is what a wonderful collectible Anchor Hocking glass is!

From its humble beginnings as a turn of the century glass company near the banks of the Hocking River in Lancaster Ohio Anchor Hocking has grown to become a favorite in homes across America. 

I use Anchor glass every day and I bet that you have some in your kitchen as well.

Block Optic Powder Jar

Anchor Hocking began business in 1905 with the purchase of the Lancaster Carbon Company in Ohio. The original investors, Isaac Collins, EB Good and their associates named the company Hocking Glass for the nearby Hocking River and nicknamed the plant the “Black Cat” because of all of the carbon dust.

When the original plant burned to the ground in 1924, “Plant 1” was built on the original site and later that same year Hocking acquired the Lancaster Glass Co. and the Standard Glass Co.

Forest Green Dessert Cups

In 1931, Hocking Glass entered the glass container business leading to the 1937 merger of Hocking Glass Company and Anchor Cap and Closure Company and bringing about the more familiar Anchor Hocking name.

Boopie Glasses

The corporation continued to grow through expansion of the existing company’s products and facilities, building new plants and acquiring additional companies across the USA. 

By 1969 the word ‘glass’ was no longer part of this international corporation whose products now included plastics, lighting, earthenware, china and stoneware. 

Today the company has a major manufacturing facility and a 1.3 million square foot distribution center employing over 1,300 people in Lancaster, Ohio and is a leading producer of consumer glass 

products with distribution around the world. 

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about Anchor Hocking's history. Whether you are looking for Depression Glass, Mid Century designs or something from the seventies or eighties Anchor Hocking has something for every taste and style.

Fire King Mugs

Nuts for Heisey Glass!

Nuts for Heisey Glass!

If you are looking for a collection that doesn’t take up a lot of space consider Heisey nut and almond dishes. These tiny treasures come in a multitude of shapes and colors and they make a stunning display grouped together.

 

Wait a minute, just who is Heisey and why would I want to collect their glass? 

Let me tell you!

Heisey Glass Company began production in 1896 in Newark Ohio and immediately became known for the beauty and quality of their glassware. Be warned! Once you have seen and handled Heisey glass lesser glass will no longer hold the same appeal. Heisey owes its beauty to an excellent glass formula, high quality raw materials, and to the way it was finished--fire polishing and grinding and polishing the bottoms of most pieces. The company closed in 1957 making this elegant glassware even more collectible as time goes on. Are you hooked on Heisey yet?

Just how many nut and almond dishes are available to collect? 

More than you might think

With 30 different patterns in numerous colors your collection could number in the hundreds!

Did you say colors?

Not yet, but since you asked...

In the 1920’s Heisey began producing colored glassware and what fabulous colors they were with names like Flamingo, Moongleam, Canary, Dawn, Tangerine, Hawthorne, Emerald, Sahara, Limelight and Alexandrite as well as more common names such as Rose, Cobalt and Marigold. 

Alexandrite (top center) is one of the most desirable colors appearing lavender under natural light and turning blue under a florescent light.

To see examples of these colors and more visit http://www.heiseymuseum.org/colors.html

If nut and almond dishes aren’t enough of a collection for you there is a plethora of other tiny dishes including individual dessert dishes, jellies, oyster cups, mustard jars, coasters, individual creamers and sugars, and of course toothpicks – whew!

So even if you only have a tiny space you can have an impressive collection with these beautiful little dishes from Heisey.

To learn more about Heisey Glass Company please visit http://www.heiseymuseum.org/index.html

All photos used by permission of J Taylo and subject to copyright laws.

Tom & Jerry ??

Who are Tom and Jerry and why are their names on holiday punch bowls?

I have to admit that the first time I saw these names paired up was on a Saturday morning cartoon show. However, the Tom & Jerry I'm talking about today are not the adorable cat and mouse duo.

Tom & Jerry was a popular Christmas cocktail created by writer Pierce Egan in the 1820s. In order to publicize his book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom (1821), and the subsequent stage play Tom and Jerry, or Life in London (also 1821), Egan introduced a variation of eggnog by adding ½ fl oz of brandy, calling it a "Tom and Jerry". The addition of liquor helped popularize the drink.

There are many recipes on the internet - here's one example.

Tom & Jerry Eggnog

Ingredients
For the batter:12 eggs, separated
1 pound sugar (add more if you prefer it sweeter)
2 ounces aged rum (Appleton Extra, Bacardi 8, and Cockspur are all good choices)
1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
For serving:Brandy
Aged rum
Hot milk
Boiling water

Procedure
For the batter: Beat the egg yolks well, then gradually whisk in the sugar. Add the rum and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture until well mixed. Keep batter refrigerated until serving.
For serving: For each drink, put 2 ounces of batter into a toddy mug. Add 1 ounce each of brandy and aged rum (bourbon or rye whiskey also work well), and fill with equal parts hot milk and boiling water. Top with grated nutmeg. If using a small coffee cup or classic Tom & Jerry mug, you may wish to cut the serving size in half.

There are also commercial Tom & Jerry mixes available to simplify making this traditional hot yuletime cocktail.

Please visit my stores, or simply click on the photos for vintage Tom & Jerry serving sets!

Flea Market Finds - Fabulous Carnival Glass

I have real life get in the way of my blogging again, lol, but I did want to share the beautiful glass I found on the way home from Miami. We only stopped at one flea market but it was a goodie! I found this gorgeous Imperial 474 water set, circa 1915 and this fabulous Dugan Floral and Grape pitcher, circa 1910. My very first old carnival glass finds, how exciting is that?

For more information on these pieces, please visit my Ruby Lane store

More Thrifting and Some Actual Work ;-)

When I visit my mom, I try to do a couple of things for her while I’m there. This trip we decide to revamp the “garden” aka weed patch by her patio. This pic is post weeding. She has had some medical issues over the last year and the yard has gotten away from her. We pull the weeds; add a fountain and some new plants that are supposed to like full sun and voila! a beautiful patio garden with the soothing sound of trickling water. I also tried my hand at a faux finish on her bathroom walls and I think it came out pretty well.On my numerous trips to the Home Depot, I drive right by a Salvation Army Thrift store and for some reason my car always automatically pulls into the parking lot. I have found some little treasure each time – a pink Dogwood dinner plate, an amber Diana dinner plate and this last time, a Candlewick saucer and two green Depression glass cups.
My only other score in Miami is this way cool lamp made from 2 metal boxes in the 1940's judging from the non-polarized plug. We plan on traveling back to Ohio on the weekend so I'm hoping for better luck at the flea markets than we had on the way to Miami.
Next: Finally! A good flea market!!

Miami Nightlife - Clubs, Gangs and Hitler??

One thing I have to say about traveling with my 20-something daughter is that it sure makes me expand my comfort zone! Meg has heard about some places she is interested in checking out so instead of sitting at home and going to bed at a reasonable hour we venture out into the Miami night.

There is a club just outside the oh-so-trendy Fashion District downtown called Churchill’s A Sort of English Pub. It has a reputation for supporting local indie bands and you never know what type of music they will have coming up. There are 4 or 5 bands playing the first night we’re there and all I can say about them is that they were LOUD! Megan and I sit at the bar where we have a good view of the stage. While we’re waiting for the bands to begin I spend some time watching a hustler at the pool table. I think he’s having an off night because he doesn’t seem that good but maybe that’s the whole idea? He takes off when the place starts to fill up with a young hip crowd and I am feeling more and more out of place. I move over to the darker side of the bar where I can hide. Of course, as soon as I move two guys swoop in on Meg and I have fun watching them all chat from across the bar.

One of the guys she was talking with has made quite an impression on Meg – smart, funny, well read and a law student at the University of Miami. Oh, and really cute too, and in a band. She must have made an impression on him as well because he starts calling her the next day and they decide to have coffee that evening. Thank goodness! I don’t think I could do two late nights in a row ;-) The next night they plan to listen to some music and hang out at his apartment. He’s originally from Germany and has a lot of WWII books and memorabilia in the living room. Meg has always been interested in history so she is enjoying looking at everything. He offers to show her more of his collection but tells her it may “creep her out”… When she follows him into the bedroom there is a collection of German medals and armbands including ones with Nazi insignia and …get this… a portrait of Hitler! Not just a cheap print either but an embossed metal 3-D profile on a wood plaque. Her response? “Ummm… do you think you could take me home now?” I mean seriously, who has a portrait of Hitler in their bedroom??!

Needless to say, the budding romance came to a screeching halt. The next night we decide to do something All American so we go bowling. Mom comes to watch and giggle at my lack of bowling skills. Megan is a natural athlete and beats me easily even though she has no form and basically just hurls the ball toward the pins and knocks them down. Being raised by a league bowler, I have excellent form and a wicked curve but unfortunately no control over what path the ball might choose to take down the alley. I had one good game, which for me is anything over 100. My other games were just pathetic, I don’t know what the record is for gutter balls but I must have been getting close, lol!

Later Meg and I go to a billiard hall in Hialeah to play some pool, a game where I am not totally inept. When we walk in the very first thing she notices is that there is a large group of gang members playing at one of the tables wearing leather jackets emblazened with skulls and the name of the gang. Guess what table we’re given? That’s right, the one right next to the gang members. Here are my keen observations of gang life. 1. Always wear your colors. One of the members was chastised for not having his jacket on. 2. Show respect to the head of the gang. The leader had just gotten out of the hospital, had a big cast on his leg and was reigning over the table from a chair on the side - obviously an important guy. 3. The new guy has to pay his dues. One guy was apparently new as he was running around getting things for the rest of the group and they were teaching him how to play pool. It was pretty tame. I guess that as long as there’s not an opposing gang present it’s perfectly safe. The weird thing was that they were a motorcycle gang but there weren’t any bikes parked outside.



We visit Churchill’s again before we leave Miami and on this night, they have an open jam where all of the local bands come and play together. It was a very bazaar group of pseudo hippie, punk, and or hipster musicians and their loyal followers weaving a musical tapestry of a sort. A very friendly (and very high) bunch of people and entertaining as well.